Department for Transport

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of buses in the UK are currently zero-emission; what percentage of new bus orders are zero-emission; and whether they have a target for the number of zero-emission buses by 2025; and if so, what is that target.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government believes that it is right to reduce NOx and carbon emissions on the UK bus fleet. That is why it has provided over £240 million so far to help fund the cleanest buses, and in February 2019 announced the winners of a £48 million scheme which will fund a further 263 zero emission buses. Currently 17% of the UK bus fleet is low emission and 1% is zero emission. In 2018 4.2% of all new bus orders were for a zero-emission bus. Whilst there is no target for the number of zero emission buses by 2025 the Government is committed to the decarbonisation of the UK bus fleet.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

lord trefgarne: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the approximate quantity of steel rail required for the HS2 project.

baroness vere of norbiton: As stated in the Working Draft Environmental Statement (p.136), the approximate total of steel required for the HS2 project is 1.94 million metric tonnes. The procurements for contracts that will involve the purchase of steel have not yet concluded so no contract awards have been made. However, HS2 Ltd has already engaged with thousands of British businesses, to aid them in winning work on HS2. So far 98% of contracts for HS2, awarded directly and through the supply chain, have been won by British companies, with many more opportunities to come in the future. HS2 Ltd has let around £10bn worth of contracts and by the end of next year that will be around £20bn.

Passenger Ships: Standards

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Marine and Coastguard Agency’sConsultation on the Proposed Revised Technical Requirements and Associated Impact Assessment Resulting from the Review of Standards for Older UK Passenger Ships, published on 6 November 2018, whethervessels brought into service before 1 January will be granted grandfather rights to be exempt from new regulations; and what assessment they have made of the impact of such vessels being exempt on their ability to continue in business.

baroness vere of norbiton: A vessel being brought into service as a passenger ship would be subject to different requirements depending on their area of operation, the construction material and whether it has previously held a UK passenger vessel certificate. For the majority of such vessels, the standards applied are not those which are under review. A limited number of vessels could be brought into service under these older Regulations. Any vessels subject to the standards that will be modified by the review will have a two-year phase in period for compliance from the in-force date of the new legislation. This applies equally well to existing vessels or those which are yet to be brought into service.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Honda: Swindon

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what economic assessment they have made of Honda's decision to close it's Swindon plant in 2021.

lord henley: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy met with the Honda Executives in London on 18 February, just ahead of Honda’s initial announcement to close its Swindon plant on 19 February. Since then, the Secretary of State has chaired a taskforce consisting of local leaders, MPs and trade unions, to provide support to Honda’s 3,500 strong workforce and other businesses who would be affected by the loss of Honda’s plant in Swindon.Through the taskforce we are determined to work together to ensure that Swindon continues its record of attracting investment from advanced manufacturers, maintaining and creating highly skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for many years to come. That will include engaging closely with parties interested in future uses of the site in Swindon owned by Honda.The taskforce, led by local partners will actively assess and focus on minimising potential impacts of Honda closing its manufacturing operations, embracing future economic opportunities before, during and after Honda close their site. Honda has stated that they will retain a significant operational presence in the UK, and through a network of over 800 dealerships and distributors. Their European HQ will remain in the UK and their ongoing R&D presence in the UK will continue, as will their Formula 1 operations.

Equal Pay: Ethnic Groups

lord shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish their response to the consultationEthnicity Pay Reporting, which closed on 11 January.

lord henley: The ethnicity pay reporting consultation closed on 11th January. We received over 300 detailed responses. We will set out next steps in due course.

British Steel: Loans

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they used external independent advisers in connection with the evaluation of British Steel's applications for financial support over the last three months; and, if so, (1) who those advisers were, and (2) how much they were paid.

lord henley: The Government sought commercial and legal advice from external independent advisers. Exact costs have not been finalised.

British Steel: Loans

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurance they received that the terms on which they provided financial support to British Steel were at commercial rates.

lord henley: The agreement between the Government and British Steel regarding their EU Emissions Trading Scheme compliance was fully commercial and state aid compliant, under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982.The terms of the commercial agreement are set out in letters from the Permanent Secretary to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller & Auditor General, copies of which have been placed in the libraries of both Houses.The Government carried out all of the necessary checks and due diligence which a typical commercial lender would undertake in relation to the company before making a commercial offer, including working closely with legal and commercial advisors to scrutinise the terms of the transaction.The Deed of Forfeiture contains the terms and conditions which would be required by a commercial lender.

Greybull Capital

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will undertake a review into the activities of Greybull Capital, in particular withregard to (1) Monarch Airlines, (2) British Steel, (3) issues of creditor preference, and (4) the completeness and accuracy of public statements made by Greybull Capital, its partners, and employees.

lord henley: The Official Receiver is under a statutory duty to investigate the cause of failure of any company in compulsory liquidation and generally its business, dealings and affairs, which will include any actions taken which have been detrimental to creditors or pension schemes, and will do so in the case of British Steel. He has a duty to report any potential misconduct of directors to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.In the case of British Steel, the Secretary of State has written to the Insolvency Service, specifically requesting that the investigation not only looks at the conduct of the directors immediately prior to and at insolvency, but also at the investments made in the company (noting previous commitments given in this regard) and the potential value transferred out of the company.

Industry: Disclosure of Information

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthey intend tocommission a review of the legislation and regulatory practice governing whistleblowing in regulated industries to investigate (1) the effectiveness of current practices,(2) the adequacy of protections provided to whistleblowers, and (3) the adoption of policies to promote and safeguard whistleblowing.

lord henley: Over recent years, the Government has implemented statutory and non-statutory reforms to improve the whistleblowing framework in all sectors. This includes guidance for whistleblowers on how in practice to make disclosures while preserving their employment protections; and guidance for employers including a non-statutory code of practice.We have fulfilled the commitment to keep the Prescribed Persons list up to date – these are individuals and bodies that a whistleblower can approach in order to make a disclosure. Guidance is in place for Prescribed Persons and we review the list annually.The most recent reform was a new legislative requirement for most prescribed persons to produce an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures made to them by workers. Relevant prescribed persons were required to publish the first of these reports by the end of September 2018.Whilst it is right and proper that Government reviews the whistleblowing framework, we believe that it would be premature to do so now. We need to allow the existing changes that we have introduced to embed and provide the necessary evidence of their impact over time that would support a meaningful review.

Energy: Prices

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the cost of energy bills on the rate of inflation; and what steps they are taking to improve price competition in the energy sector.

lord henley: The Office of National Statistics is responsible for publishing data on inflation rates and how household costs may impact inflation. The most recent update was published on 22 May. The government wants to see a dynamic and innovative energy market. We continue to work with Ofgem to improve competition, which in recent years has increased dramatically. There are now around 60 suppliers in the market compared with only 12 in 2010 offering consumers choice and value for money, so that switching supplier can save customers hundreds on their energy bills each year.

Wind Power

lord hunt of chesterton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what analyses they have conducted into the operational lifetime of offshore and onshore wind energy machines; and what guidance they intend to provide in that regard to relevant individuals and organisations.

lord henley: The Government does not provide guidance on the operational lifetime of wind turbines. Previous government research relating to onshore wind turbine longevity is available on the government’s website, titled ‘Onshore Wind - Direct & Wider Economic Impacts’. The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, a collaboration between Innovate UK and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, has jointly agreed innovation priorities around four areas, one of which is operations & maintenance and windfarm lifecycle.

British Steel: Loans

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government to which company in the British Steel group of companies they extended a loan of £120 million for the purchase of carbon credits; whether that loan was guaranteed by Greybull Capital and associates; whether the borrower benefited from, or was exposed to, guarantees to other British Steel and Greybull Capital parties; and when that loan was drawn down.

lord henley: The support was provided to British Steel Limited in the form of a bridge facility. Under the terms of the commercial arrangement, the Government purchased the necessary allowances on behalf of British Steel Limited in the week leading up to 30 April and then surrendered them, via British Steel Limited's Operator Holding Account, to the EU Surrender Account. This occurred before the 30th April compliance deadline to surrender allowances for the 2018 reporting year, thus enabling British Steel Limited to meet its environmental obligations and avoid any penalties that would otherwise have resulted from non-compliance. In return, under a deed of forfeiture, the company’s 2019 allowances will be assigned to the Government once issued, and the proceeds from selling these is expected to cover the costs of purchasing the allowances. The terms of the commercial agreement between the Government and British Steel are set out in letters from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller & Auditor General, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Shizam Riasat

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights and freedom of religion or belief implications of the case of the 16 year old Pakistani Christian girl Sheeza Riasat who was abducted from her parents’ home near Gujranwala, Pakistan on 12 Februaryand forcibly converted and married; and what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan aboutthatcase.

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about kidnappings and forced conversions of under-age girls who are members of a religious minority; and what werethe outcomes of any suchrepresentations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government is concerned about the case of Sheeza Riasat. The Government strongly condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls from religious minorities in Pakistan.We welcome the recent decision by the Pakistan Senate to pass the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2019. The Bill was recently introduced to the National Assembly.The UK regularly raises concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including religious minorities, women and children, with the Pakistani Government. Officials at the British High Commission in Islamabad have raised the issue of forced marriage with the National Commission for Human Rights.During my visit to Pakistan on 18 and 19 February, I met faith leaders to discuss issues faced by religious minorities, including the issue of forced marriage. I also raised our concerns about child protection, the treatment of minority communities and the issue of forced marriage with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, during the same visit.We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations to vulnerable groups, including religious minorities and women and girls, and to uphold the rule of law.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Pakistani girls, who are members of a religious minority, being removed from schools by their parents as a result of the number of abductions and forced conversions on the literacy rate of girls in Pakistan; and what steps they intend to take to help resolve this problem.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Education is an integral part of the UK's approach to improving human rights. The education of girls continues to be a priority for UK development assistance in Pakistan. Under the Punjab Education Sector Programme, we are working with a local partner organisation to reintegrate young and adolescent girls who have left school prematurely back into mainstream schools or vocational education. Within less than a year, over 4000 girls have benefitted from this intervention so far.The British Government supports other programmes designed to improve human rights and opportunities for women, religious minorities and marginalised groups. For example, the Department for International Development's AAWAZ II programme works with communities to promote rights of children, women, youth and religious minorities, protect them from exploitation, and prevent discrimination and intolerance. It also funds interventions in support of ending child marriage.During my visit to Pakistan in February, I raised our concerns about child protection, the treatment of minority communities and the issue of forced marriage with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari.We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations to vulnerable groups, including religious minorities and women and girls.

Sudan: Politics and Government

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatdiscussions they have had with Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, interim Vice President of Sudan; what assessment they have made of his role in Darfur’s Janjaweed militias; and whether they have discussed his role in the Darfur genocide with officials of the International Criminal Court.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition, Transitional Military Council and members of the protest movement. As part of these interactions the British Ambassador to Khartoum met the Deputy Head of the Transitional Military Committee, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo ("Hametti"), on April 15 2019 to call for: 1) steps to improve the situation in Sudan; 2) a swift move to a civilian transitional government; and 3) the release of all political detainees. The Ambassador also expressed concerns at the past role of the Rapid Support Forces. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. The UK strongly supports the mission of the International Criminal Court; due legal process must be followed.

Israeli Settlements: Overseas Trade

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy towards the use, in all Government departments and services, of goods sourced from illegal settlements in the West Bank; and in particular, how the use of such goods applies to UK missions in Israel and Palestine.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Government departments and missions are aware of UK policy on this issue, which is that we do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including settlements in the West Bank, as part of Israel and indeed these settlements are not covered by the current EU-Israel Association Agreement which governs our trade with Israel.

Israel: Palestinians

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the number of Palestinian children held in Israeli prisons; how many representations they have made to the government of Israel about this being a war crime under Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention; when those representations were made; by whom they were made; and what action they are taking under Article 146 of the Geneva Convention to provide effective penal sanctions for person committing unlawful transfers.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We understand 203 Palestinian children were in Israeli military detention at the end of December 2018. It remains our assessment that transfer of Palestinian child and adult detainees to prisons inside Israel is in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. We continue to make representations to the Israeli authorities at Ministerial and senior official level outlining our concerns around Israel’s treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli detention. Most recently officials at our Embassy in Tel Aviv raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities on 18 March.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, and intend to make, to the government of Israel about the use of collective punishment against the families of Palestinians who have been accused of violent acts by Israel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have serious concerns about the use of punitive acts against the families of Palestinians who have been accused of violent acts by Israel, including Israel’s policy of demolitions to destroy the homes belonging to suspected Palestinian terrorists or their families. Such punishments cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel's commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to international humanitarian law. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have registered concerns about this policy with Israeli authorities.

Gaza: Travel Restrictions

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, and intend to make, to the government of Israel about family members not being permitted to accompany children who are receiving medical treatment outside of Gaza.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the matter of medical permits with the Israeli authorities. Israeli restrictions severely restrict the movement of medical professionals, patients and families in Gaza, hampering the provision of quality health services. The situation in Gaza is particularly acute, and is compounded by frequent closure by Egypt of the Rafah crossing, preventing urgent medical cases from seeking treatment in Egypt. We are clear that Israel’s occupation of Gaza is not sustainable. That is why we need a lasting peace agreement which ensures that all those who are in need of medical attention have access to healthcare provisions.

Palestinians: Health Services

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Safeguarding Health in Conflict and other international human rights and medical groups, Impunity Remains: 2018 Attacks on Health Care in 23 Countries in Conflict, published in May, that found that the Occupied Palestinian Territories experienced the highest number of attacks of those 23 countries on healthcare facilities, workers and vehicles in 2018.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned by the report on attacks on health workers and healthcare facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in particular in Gaza. We regularly raise our concerns about the situation with the Israeli Government, pressing them on the need for a long-term strategy to improve humanitarian conditions. We are clear that medical staff and services should have the protection that allows them to do their jobs in safety. We are providing funding to UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross to help improve the situation for healthcare in Gaza.

West Bank: Pipelines

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, and intend to make, to the government of Israel about the proposed routing of a water pipeline through the West Bank by Mekorot Water, which, if built, may destroy Palestinian agricultural land.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have previously raised with Israeli authorities our concerns about the damage to Palestinian agricultural land. We also remain seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property and have raised these concerns with the Israeli authorities.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of Israel’s decision to deduct $138 million from tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Agreement.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have repeatedly raised with the Government of Israel our concerns about Israel's decision to withhold tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA). We expect economic and fiscal agreements between Israel and the PA to continue to be fully implemented, including Israel's obligations under the Oslo Accords and Paris Protocol.

North Korea: Human Trafficking

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Korea Future InitiativeSex Slaves: The Prostitution, Cybersex, and Forced Marriage of North Korean Women and Girls in China, published andpresented to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea on 20 May which details the trafficking, abuse, forced marriage and enslavement of North Korean women by Chinese trafficking gangs; and whether they intend to raise the contents of that report with thegovernments of the People's Republic ofChina and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are grateful to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for North Korea for its ongoing work to highlight the grave human rights situation in North Korea. The Korea Future Initiative’s new report presents a stark and worsening picture of the plight of North Korean women and girls in China. We are deeply concerned at its accounts of women and girls being trafficked from North Korea to China for prostitution and forced marriage, and the misery and suffering they endure.We will continue to raise with China our concerns over the repatriation of North Korean refugees, which we believe puts them at serious risk of exploitation. We continue to emphasise to China that those fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants. The UK is at the forefront of raising global awareness of modern slavery and sexual violence. As such, we will consider the best way to address the issues in the report including raising these with the appropriate Chinese and North Korean authorities.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Members of the European ParliamentReligious Minorities in Pakistan, published on 13 May, which states thatthe situation of Pakistan’s minorities is worsening; and whether they intend to raise the contents of that report with the government of Pakistan.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of the report on Religious Minorities in Pakistan which was published on 13 May by Members of the European Parliament.The British Government regularly raises its concerns about discrimination against minority communities with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. I raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Dr Shireen Mazari, during my visit to Islamabad in February.At the UN Periodic Review of Pakistan's human rights record in November 2017, the UK called on Pakistan to strengthen protection of minorities and establish an independent National Commission for Minorities. The Government will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.

Nigeria: Islamic State

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the influence of the Islamic State in West Africa Province in north eastern Nigeria and the potential for further conflict across in the region.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned with the increase of Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) activity in North Eastern Nigeria. Together with international partners, we will continue to support Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle threats to regional stability by ISWA. Regional governments must work together to stabilise areas affected by terrorism and reduce safe havens for terrorists. Humanitarian operations have been placed under pressure and some suspended, cutting off support for up to 120,000 people. We are working with international partners to support contingency planning to protect aid workers, providing strategic military advice, and are reviewing options for additional UK assistance.

Brazil: Rain Forests

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the government of Brazil to exercise restraint over the economic exploitation of Amazon rainforest, in view of its importance to the global environment.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Our posts in Brazil frequently engage with the Brazilian Government on a number of environmental issues including deforestation. We have been having positive discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and work closely with them on our International Climate Fund programmes.We are working with Brazil to help ensure it continues to protect the Amazon and have invested nearly £120 million through the International Climate Fund on projects to limit deforestation, prevent forest fires and implement the Forestry Code in the Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes.

Bahrain: Human Rights

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last carried out an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the oversight bodies in Bahrain, including the Ombudsman and the National Institute for Human Rights; and what were the findings of that assessment.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We believe that the oversight bodies in Bahrain, including the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman, are structured so that they are able to operate independently from the organisations that they oversee. While these bodies still have more to do, they have already demonstrated their abilities including through the prosecution of more than 90 police officers accused of human rights abuses.

Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council

baroness stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government when a communiqué from the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in London on 4and 5 December 2018 will be published.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Government and the Overseas Territories developed an Action Plan as a more effective tool for measuring progress following the Joint Ministerial Council. I laid a Written Ministerial Statement on 17 December 2018 (HLWS1153) which covered the main issues in the Action Plan. The next Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council will take place in London on 26 and 27 November 2019.

British Overseas Territories: Companies

baroness stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer bythe Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Officeon 28 January (211613), what is the schedule for technical workshops between the UK and the British Overseas Territories for the establishment of public registers of beneficial ownership; and what are the agendas for each of those workshops.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: My Department is working with other Government Departments on the support and expertise the UK Government can offer the Overseas Territories. As part of that, we plan to hold a technical workshop this summer, and are currently liaising with the Overseas Territories to agree the issues they would find it most useful to cover in the workshop. These issues could include policy, technical and legal areas.

Department for Exiting the European Union

UK Trade with EU

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact on the level of(1) imports, and (2) exports, with the EU if the UK were to trade on World Trade Organisation terms alone.

lord callanan: The Government remains focused on ensuring a smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal as soon as possible.In November 2018, the Government delivered on its commitment to provide appropriate analysis to Parliament with a robust, objective assessment of how exiting the EU may affect the economy of the UK across different EU exit scenarios. The no deal scenario is based on an assessment of the average trade barriers that a country trading on WTO terms faces. Whilst all economic modelling is inherently uncertain, the increase in trade barriers under the modelled no deal scenario is estimated to result in lower UK-EU trade volumes in the long run compared to today's arrangements; (1) UK imports from the EU are estimated to be between 34-43% lower and (2) UK exports to the EU are estimated to be between 30-40% lower.

Brexit

lord radice: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the differential impact of (1) leaving the EU without a deal, and (2) staying in the EU, over the next 10 years.

lord callanan: The 2016 referendum delivered a clear instruction to withdraw from the European Union, which the Government is committed to implementing. The Government remains focused on ensuring a smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal as soon as possible.In November 2018, the Government delivered on its commitment to provide appropriate analysis to Parliament with a robust, objective assessment of how exiting the EU may affect the economy of the UK in the long run (circa 15 years). The analysis considers a range of scenarios, including a no deal scenario. All scenarios are compared to today’s arrangements, but this is not a specific projection of future membership of the EU; the future direction of EU policy is uncertain, and could have both positive and negative impacts on the UK economy. Whilst all economic modelling is inherently uncertain, the analysis shows that compared to today’s arrangements, GDP in the modelled no deal scenario is estimated to be between 6.3% and 9% lower in the long run.

Brexit

lord radice: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have spent on preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

lord callanan: Additional EU Exit funding, allocated by HM Treasury to departments and the Devolved Administrations, covers all scenarios. ‘No deal’ spending cannot readily be separated from ‘deal’ spending given significant overlap in plans in many cases. HM Treasury has since 2016 allocated over £4.2 billion of funding, for all exit scenarios.

Department of Health and Social Care

E. Coli

baroness gardner of parkes: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 14 May (HL15384), what assessment they have made of the number of people, with or without resistant blood stream infections, who have Carbapenem resistant E. coli-like bacteria present in their bodies; and what (1) proposed, and (2) current, initiatives there are to control the transmission of such bacteria.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The 2018 English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance report contains information on carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) causing bloodstream infections in England. In 2017 there were 18 cases. The number of people with other infections and carriage of E. coli resistant to carbapenems is harder to ascertain as surveillance is not as uniform.Public Health England (PHE) publishes guidance on the prevention and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (including E. coli); guidance is available for both acute and non-acute settings, copies of the Toolkit for managing carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in non-acute and community settings and Acute trust toolkit for the early detection, management and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are attached. PHE is supporting actions outlined in the United Kingdom’s Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan that aim to prevent and control the transmission of carbapenem-resistant bacteria, which includes reducing the number of specific drug-resistant infections in people by 10% by 2025; reducing UK antimicrobial use in humans by 15% by 2024; and adding carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections to the list of notifiable diseases in existing laboratory reporting systems.



Acute trust toolkit
(PDF Document, 1.58 MB)




CPE Non Acute toolkit
(PDF Document, 795.62 KB)

Lung Diseases: Medical Equipment

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the potential of schemes by pharmaceutical companies to develop recycling and recovery schemes for respiratory inhalers.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: We are informed by NHS England that its joint Public Health England funded Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) has reviewed a scheme operated by GlaxoSmithKline that encourages return of inhalers for recycling. The scheme is very welcome but limited in scope, currently recovering around 1% of all inhalers.All used inhalers can already be returned to all pharmacies to be disposed of by incineration with the medicines waste streams.NHS England has invited industry suggestions to the national Low Carbon Inhalers Working Group established by the SDU, on ways to increase recovery for environmentally safe disposal and recycling.

Lung Diseases: Medical Equipment

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the impact of the use of metred dose inflators containing hydrofluorocarbons in releasing greenhouse gases.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the proportion of the NHS carbon footprint made by hydrofluorocarbon in metred dose inflators.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: We have made no such assessment on the proportion of the National Health Service carbon footprint made by hydrofluorocarbon in metred dose inhalers or of the impact of the use of metred dose inhalers containing hydrofluorocarbons in releasing greenhouse gases. However, we are informed by NHS England that the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory calculated the carbon emissions from inhalers in England as 850,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. This is equivalent to approximately 4% of the entire carbon footprint of the NHS in England.

Asthma: Medical Equipment

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they intend to have, if any, with pharmaceutical companiesabout how the environmental damage caused by asthma inhalers may be reduced.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: NHS England has been in regular dialogue with industry over the last 18 months about the need to reduce the environmental damage caused by asthma inhalers. As a result, an industry working group on this has been formed, chaired by the Industry Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium (IPAC). IPAC has now accepted an invitation to join the national Low Carbon Inhalers Working Group, chaired by the Sustainable Development Unit, to represent industry. This working group has been asked to provide proposals from industry on reducing the carbon impacts of inhalers to support the NHS Long Term Plan target.

Asthma: Medical Equipment

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sufficiency of the progress made byNICE on working with clinicians and industry to promote greater use of asthma inhalers with low global warming potential.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published an online only patient decision aid for inhalers used in the treatment of asthma on 8 April 2019.The purpose of this aid is to help people with asthma and their healthcare professional to discuss the different inhaler devices that are available to treat their condition and where appropriate, to consider the environmental impact of the inhaler. The patient decision aid has been downloaded over 1,500 times since its publication.To encourage use of the decision aid, NICE is contributing to an expert working group on sustainable inhalers led by the Sustainable Development Unit which is actively promoting this work. The working group members include clinicians and patient organisations, such as Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation. NICE has also shared the patient decision aid through its network of NICE associates - a network of National Health Service professionals who support implementation of NICE guidance across the NHS.

Department for International Development

Syria: Internally Displaced People

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they, with their allies and international organisations, are taking to prevent the displaced persons camps in Syria at Al-Hawl, Al Roj and Rukban from becoming permanent.

baroness sugg: The UK strongly believes that displaced persons camps in Syria, including Al-Hol, Al Roj and Rukban, should not become permanent, and hope that all Syrians currently living in such camps will be able to return home in due course. We support Syrians’ right to return home voluntarily, in safety and with dignity, in line with international humanitarian law, but only when conditions are right for this to happen. For many, returns will not be possible without an end to the conflict in Syria. We continue to support the UN-facilitated political process for Syria, which aims to reach a lasting settlement to the conflict that protects the rights of all Syrians. Alongside this, we are also using UK Aid to support those who do wish to return home from IDP camps. For example, we are supporting education, vocational training and job creation, and contributing to the restoration of basic services. However, for the millions of Syrians who do currently remain in IDP camps across Syria, we continue to provide life-saving assistance, including providing essential food, water and sanitation, shelter and healthcare.

Gaza: Contamination

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Sugg on 15 May (HL15578), in view of concerns about heavy metal contamination in Gaza, whether they will conduct research into that contamination.

baroness sugg: The government at this moment will not conduct research into heavy metal contamination. We continue to engage closely with the World Health Organisation, UN OCHA, and other health and humanitarian-based NGOs working in Gaza to ensure we are able to comprehensively monitor health and humanitarian needs there.

Department for Education

Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts: Finance

lord watts: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the Higher Education Funding Council for England followed the correct procedures when it considered an application from the LiverpoolInstitute for Performing Arts for funding in 2016.

viscount younger of leckie: During the existence of the Higher Education Funding Council for England it performed the duties required of it to a high standard, including dealing with funding applications. The UK government cannot currently comment on the specific case of the funding application from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2016 as there is a live investigation underway by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

POST

lord foulkes of cumnock: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the cost of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technologyin each ofthe last five financial years for which dataare available.

lord mcfall of alcluith: The cost of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology is shared by the House of Commons and the House of Lords on a 70:30 ratio. The cost to the House of Lords in each of the last five financial years is as follows: Financial Year Cost2014-15£151,9102015-16£172,9342016-17£176,1452017-18£170,3452018-19£189,342

Treasury

Brexit

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what their latest estimate is of the impact on GDP in each year between 2019 and 2033 of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement in place.

lord young of cookham: The Government’s analysis on the economic effects of EU exit looks at the long-term impacts. Within their statutory mandates, the Bank of England and the OBR produce short-to-medium term forecasts for the UK economy which will reflect their independent judgements regarding the impact of leaving the EU.

Overseas Trade

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact on UK GDP from (1) leaving the EU's single market, and (2) negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States.

lord young of cookham: The Government has published a detailed set of economic analyses on the long-term impacts of EU exit on the UK economy, its sectors, nations and regions and the public finances – covering multiple EU exit scenarios. The analysis finds that the spectrum of outcomes for the future UK-EU relationship would deliver significantly higher economic output than the no deal scenario. In keeping with the government’s ambitious free trade agenda, the analysis assumes that, in the long run, the UK secures agreements with a broad range of potential trading partners, including, but not limited to, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The analysis estimates that in the long run these trade agreements could increase UK GDP by up to 0.2 percentage points. The complete analysis can be found in the “EU Exit: Long-Term Economic Analysis” paper, which is available on the Gov.uk website in Exiting the European Union: Publications section.

Financial Markets: Regulation

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of (1) the European Securities and Markets Authority, and (2) the Financial Conduct Authority, will have in regulating financial markets after Brexit.

lord young of cookham: The European Supervisory Authorities - which includes the European Securities and Markets Authority - are a part of the EU’s joint supervisory framework for financial services. The UK’s future position outside of the EU will mean that the UK is no longer part of the joint supervisory framework. As part of preparations for leaving the EU in any scenario, HM Treasury has delivered a programme of legislation under the EU (Withdrawal) Act designed to ensure that the UK’s regulatory regime is workable. These preparations include transferring certain regulatory and supervisory functions currently carried out by the ESAs to the appropriate UK regulator, including the FCA, where the transfer of those functions is necessary to ensure an operable regulatory regime at exit. If the UK leaves the EU under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement reached between the UK and the EU, the UK’s exit preparations would be delayed until the end of the agreed Implementation Period. Market access arrangements would continue and the UK would remain part of the joint supervisory framework, with ESA functions continuing to apply to the UK, until the end of the Implementation Period. In any exit scenario, we expect UK regulators to continue to work closely with their counterparts in the EU. This is demonstrated in the Political Declaration agreed between the UK and the EU on the future relationship, in which both sides commit to close cooperation on supervisory and regulatory matters.

Banks: Digital Technology

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they are taking to invest in digital technology hubs in the UK banking sector.

lord young of cookham: The government is committed to ensuring the UK is one of the best places in the world to start and grow a digital business. That is why we are unlocking £20bn of finance for innovative firms over the next 10 years, and why we announced £21m to establish Tech Nation and its network of 10 regional hubs, supporting further innovation in financial services. We also recognise the important role that digital technology hubs, such as Level 39 in Canary Wharf, have played in promoting the adoption of technology in the UK banking sector, and we are engaging with industry to explore how we can further support digital technology hubs in the UK.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Domestic Abuse

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to thereplyby Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 14 May (HL Deb, col 1502) whether they will legislate for an exemption to the no recourse to public funds exclusion for survivors of domestic abuse in the final version of the Domestic Abuse Bill; and what steps they are taking to ensure that the new legal duty on local authorities to provide emergency refuge accommodation will apply equally to all survivors.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: On 15 May 2019, Victoria Atkins, together with the Minister for Immigration (Caroline Noakes), the Minister of State for Equalities (Baroness Williams of Trafford) and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice (Edward Argar) co-hosted a Round Table on migrant women affected by domestic abuse. Representatives from the sector were invited to discuss the issues facing migrant women affected by domestic abuse and the opportunities to tackle these issues.The Government recognises that there are victims of domestic abuse who need additional support independently from that of their spouse / partner. We will continue to engage with domestic abuse survivors and representatives from the sector as part of our further work on the Bill.The Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), enables eligible migrants the option of claiming welfare benefits. This is to provide immediate crisis support to eligible migrants who claim to be victims of domestic abuse and are destitute as a result. To be eligible, applicants must be the spouse, or partner of someone who is British or permanently settled in the United Kingdom.We have also provided Southall Black Sisters with £250 000, via the Tampon Tax, to pilot a fund to assist those who have no recourse to public funds and are suffering abuse. The findings from that project will help guide future policy reviews.As part of our consultation on the future delivery of domestic abuse support in accommodation based services, we propose introducing a statutory duty, underpinned by statutory guidance which will clearly outline the expectations Government has for local authorities in delivering the duty. This includes outlining specific consideration of the support needs of diverse groups of victims.We will work with local authorities to understand whether the new duty will incur additional costs and to ensure that local authorities are adequately funded to discharge it. We estimate an early broad annual cost of around £90 million which the Secretary of State communicated to the House of Commons on the 13 May. However, the full costs will be informed by the consultation and taken into the Spending Review.

Ministry of Defence

Syria: Chemical Weapons

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they had of the use of poison gas in Douma on 7 April 2018 prior to the military action carried out by coalition forces.

earl howe: It was assessed that up to 75 people were killed in Douma on 7 April 2018, with as many as 500 further casualties. All indications were that a chemical weapons attack had taken place. UK medical and scientific experts analysed reports, images and video footage from the incident and concluded that the victims had been exposed to a toxic chemical, which was corroborated by first-hand accounts from NGOs and aid workers. The World Health Organisation received reports that hundreds of patients arrived at Syrian health facilities with "signs and symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals". A significant body of information, including intelligence, indicated that the Syrian regime was responsible for the attack using barrel bombs dropped from helicopters.A subsequent thorough investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) found reasonable grounds to conclude that use of a toxic chemical as a weapon, likely molecular chlorine, had taken place. We expect further investigation in due course by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team to focus on identifying those responsible.

Gulf States: Military Aid

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the British Armed Forces have provided training to the (1) Saudi Royal Guard, (2) United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard, (3) Kuwait Emiri Guard, (4) Royal Guard of Oman, and (5) Qatari Royal Guard, in the past two years; and if so, in each case, when such training was delivered.

earl howe: British Armed Forces have not provided training to the Saudi Royal Guard or the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard in the past two years.Training was provided to the Royal Guard of Oman in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and to both the Qatari Amiri Guard and the Kuwaiti Emiri Guard in 2019.

Defence: Innovation

lord robathan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding has been allocated to each of the Spearhead programmes of (1) land command and control (C2), (2) joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and (3) anti-submarine warfare; and how this will change the way the MoD purchases systems and services.

earl howe: Her Majesty's Government has approved a one-year Approved Budgetary Limit of £34.8 million to the Spearhead programmes: £8.9 million for Land Command and Control (C2), £9.6 million for joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and £16.3 million for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). The total planned spend over the seven-year portfolio is £544.1 million to the Spearhead programmes: £73.9 million for C2, £74.2 million for ISR, and £395.9 million for ASW.This initiative does not obviate the need for an Equipment Programme of major units, procured in the traditional manner, in order to deliver defence tasks. What it seeks to do is to address known risks and issues with the current force, leveraging emerging technology and innovation in order to enable us to remain ahead of our adversaries.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Poverty

baroness primarolo: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Agnew of Oulton on 16 May (HL15606), whether they will now answer the question put.

baroness buscombe: The information on numbers of children entering and exiting poverty is not available. However, figures for percentages of children moving in and out of poverty are collected in the Income Dynamics publication. These are available in Table 8.1, and in the table below:  2010-2011 to 2011-20122011-2012 to 2012-20132012-2013 to 2013-20142013-2014 to 2014-20152014-2015 to 2015-20162015-2016 to 2016-2017% children entering poverty666767% children exiting poverty343537333335 The percentage of children entering poverty is the percentage of only those children who were not in poverty in the earlier year but who were in poverty the following year. The percentage of children exiting poverty is the percentage of only those children who were in poverty in the earlier year but who were out of poverty the following year. Entry and exit rates are very different (since entry / exit rates are expressed as a percentage of only those not previously in poverty / previously in poverty respectively).The threshold used is 60 per cent of median equivalised household income Before Housing Costs (BHC). Since household incomes are subject to measurement error, and the threshold is subject to sampling and measurement error, the analysis only includes ‘clear’ transitions. For an entry/exit to count, household incomes must cross the 60 per cent of median income threshold and be at least 10 per cent higher / lower than the threshold in the following year.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Birds of Prey: Conservation

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 January (HL12536), what steps they will take in response to the report Patterns of satellite tagged hen harrier disappearances suggest widespread illegal killing on British grouse moors, published in Nature Communications on 19 May, which found that hen harriers are ten times as likely to disappear over grouse moors than elsewhere and that this is the primary cause of their decline; and whether this finding will be reflected in an update to the 2016 Hen Harrier Action Plan.

lord gardiner of kimble: Defra and Natural England will continue working in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including moorland communities, conservation organisations, police and landowners to implement the Hen Harrier Action Plan, which is kept under regular review. Defra is also working with the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group on a new action plan to tackle raptor persecution, led by a senior police officer and drawing together representatives from a range of stakeholders.

Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15634), whether DecaBDE is the same chemical as DecaPBDE; and whether production and use of DecaPBDE continues in the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) is a group of chemicals consisting of brominated hydrocarbons, of which decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE) is one. When the term DecaPBDE is used in literature it usually refers to DecaBDE. The UK ceased production of DecaBDE in 1996 and its use has declined sharply since then. It has been banned under the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants since December 2018 and this will be reflected in the revision to Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants and also under the European chemical regulation regime, REACH, since March 2019.

Beaches: Sewage

baroness bakewell of hardington mandeville: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the leaking of sewage onto beaches at (1) Sunderland, and (2) Whitburn.

lord gardiner of kimble: Continuous improvements have been made to the sewerage system in the area, with the latest being the completion of a scheme to reduce storm sewage discharges from the Whitburn long sea outfall in December 2017. This has reduced the frequency in discharges from the system by around 40% compared to the average from the old system.

Inland Waterways: Access

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the omission from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000of provision on open access to inland water.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has made no assessment of legislating for open access to inland water.

Inland Waterways: National Parks

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the length of the unmanaged waterways in National Parks to which access is uncontested and which are open to the public for recreation.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of what length of unmanaged waterways has a public right of navigation. Of the canal and major river navigation network in England and Wales approximately a quarter has either public navigation rights or are available for licensed navigation as managed by a navigation authority.

Home Office

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 15 May (HL15445), whether the proposed siting of the new Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens would increase the threat level around Parliament compared to its current usage as a park and children's playground.

baroness williams of trafford: I refer to my response to my noble friend on 5th February (HL1427), that the Government provide a wide range of advice and guidance to the public about threats and how they can be mitigated. It is a matter for the owners and operators of crowded places to consider this advice and take forward appropriate security measures.The Metropolitan Police Service CTSA security assessment for the proposed Holocaust memorial would have assessed the future use of that part of Victoria Tower Gardens as a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.Parliamentary security is a separate matter dealt with by the House Parliamentary security department.

Cabinet Office

Royal Commissions

lord foulkes of cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Royal Commissions have beenestablishedsince 1989; what was the topic of each; and what recommendations of eachthey adopted.

lord young of cookham: Three Royal Commissions have been established since 1989: Royal Commission on Criminal JusticeRoyal Commission on Long-term Care of the ElderlyRoyal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords Government departments will have responded to the relevant Royal Commission reports, and those responses are a matter of public record.

European Parliament: Elections

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many European Union citizens whose names appear on the register of electors with a right to vote in the European Parliament elections were turned away from polling stations on 23 May.

lord young of cookham: Data on people who are turned away from polling stations is not collected centrally.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Trade: Israeli Settlements

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any direct, or indirect, trade by UK public bodies with illegal settlements in the West Bank; and whether they will review the adequacy of the advice on theUK Tradeand Investment website in that respect.

viscount younger of leckie: The Government neither supports nor encourages such dealings. The Government routinely updates its guidance on the Overseas Business Risk website, outlining the clear risks related to economic and financial activities (including financial transactions, investments, purchases and procurements) in the settlements.

EU External Trade: Trade Agreements

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the 65 non-EU countries the UK has trade agreements with through membership of the EU have guaranteed that they will roll over those agreements on the same terms after Brexit.

viscount younger of leckie: The Government is seeking to replicate the effects of existing trade agreements which the UK participates in as a member of the EU, as far as possible. Discussions with our partners have demonstrated a commitment to finding a pragmatic way to ensure continuity of our existing international agreements. For agreements already signed, the Government has laid in Parliament a report for each trade continuity agreement, alongside texts of agreements, to explain any significant changes to the trade-related provisions of our existing agreements. A list of all signed agreements is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/signed-uk-trade-agreements-transitioned-from-the-eu.

EU External Trade: China

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Business Confidence Survey 2019, published on 20 May by the European Chamber of Commerce, suggesting an increase in European companies feeling pressured to hand over valuable technology to China in exchange for market access.

viscount younger of leckie: We have reviewed the findings of the European Chamber of Commerce Business Confidence Survey 2019. We note the reported concerns by businesses on the business environment in China, including on the protection of intellectual property (IP) and market access. The UK, along with our European partners, engages actively with China to address our concerns with the protection of IP and to strengthen China’s IP framework.

Trade: Developing Countries

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of global trade slowdown on emerging economies; and what steps they are taking to reduce barriers to supply chains between the UK and emerging economies post-Brexit.

viscount younger of leckie: The IMF and OECD have recently revised down their projections for global trade growth in 2019. The latest OECD Economic Outlook, published on 21 May, states that ‘weak global trade… continue[s] to impede growth in many [emerging-market] countries’. Well-functioning global trade relationships are vital for the global economy and for ensuring UK businesses can manage their supply chains effectively. In addition to working with countries to explore the best ways to develop our trade and investment relationships, we are putting resource behind our efforts to tackle market access barriers. We are establishing a new approach that brings together the efforts of all of the government and new regional HM Trade Commissioners who will help to resolve market access barriers across the globe.